Dissolution of the Monasteries

The Dissolution of the Monasteries was a set of anti-Catholic administrative and legal processes between 1536 and 1541 by which King Henry VIII of England disbanded Roman Catholic monasteries, priories, convents, and friaries in England, Wales, and Ireland, appropriated their income, disposed of their assets, and provided for their former personnel and functions. The act was drawn up by Secretary Thomas Cromwell, who felt that the confiscation of the Catholic Church's property would boost King Henry's exchequer. The act closed the 900 religious houses in England (260 for monks, 300 for regular canons, 142 nunneries, and 183 friaries) and fired 12,000 people (4,000 monks, 3,000 canons, 3,000 friars, and 2,000 nuns).